BISHOP SIMPSON ON STIMULANTS.
In his third Yale lecture, Bishop Simpson advised the young men who were entering the ministry to avoid all stimulants, and in connection with this advice gave a bit of information which is not generally known: “I would scarcely suppose that any one who feels himself called to the ministry will continue their use; yet kind friends will sometimes suggest that you are weak, your nerves are tremulous, you have been out in the cold, you need a little stimulant, and they will urge the taking of a little wine or brandy before preaching. These friends will tell you that the most distinguished ministers are in the habit of using them; and I regret to say that in many churches both wine and brandy are there kept in the vestry for the use of the minister both before and after preaching.” He further said: “I have known some young ministers who used a few drops of paregoric or opium to give them strength for the pulpit. I am glad to say that I have known but few such cases; but I must add that these were led in the end to either physical or moral ruin.” And in passing, he fired a shot at the clerical cigar: “I suppose there is a sort of enjoyment connected with it, for I have seen men sit smoking for an hour with their feet upon a table, professing to be studying. I have no doubt they had visions of greatness and glory; but prolonged observation shows that their lives usually ended with their cigars in smoke.”